911 briefs -- Published June 26, 2013

Wednesday

Jun 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying who is responsible for dumping dead horses in rural parts of the county over the past several months, authorities said.

The Record

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying who is responsible for dumping dead horses in rural parts of the county over the past several months, authorities said.

The most recent case involves a dead horse that was dumped at the end of East Verdon Road in Stockton, just east of Jack Tone Road, said Deputy Les Garcia, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office. It was the fifth reported case of an illegal carcass disposal in San Joaquin County since November, Garcia said.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Sheriff's Office's Rural Crimes Unit at (209) 468-4425 or (209) 468-4798 or South County Crime Stoppers at (209) 823-4636. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Cellphone users can text information to 274637 (CRIMES) by entering the keyword "SJSO" followed by their tip.

According to the Sheriff's Office, there are a number of rendering companies and landfills that will assist with the proper disposal of animal carcasses and renderings. These include Baker Commodities Inc. in Kerman; Darling International Inc. in Crows Landing; and the Foothill Sanitary Landfill in Linden.

STOCKTON - A man was arrested on suspicion of a number of crimes early Tuesday morning after attempting to flee from police in a stolen vehicle, authorities said.

Officers attempted to stop a car with no license plates about 1:30 a.m. near North El Dorado Street and West Lincoln Road, police said. The driver failed to yield and led officers on a short pursuit, which lasted about a minute.

The vehicle stopped in front of a home in the 300 block of Alturas Avenue, officers said. The driver, 29-year-old Masters Puu, fled toward the backyard. Unable to jump a fence, Puu instead turned toward officers and took a fighting stance, authorities said.

An officer deployed his stun gun, but it was ineffective, police said. Puu tried to run back toward the street, but he was caught and taken into custody.

The vehicle Puu was driving was previously reported stolen, authorities said. He was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, possession of stolen property, evading police and resisting arrest, officers said.

Joseph Zuniga, who turned 24 on Monday, and a female passenger were spotted in a stolen 1980s model black Nissan pickup about 8:15 p.m. in the 2200 block of West Bristol Avenue, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said.

Zuniga was on probation for possession of a stolen vehicle and had an outstanding warrant for the same crime, authorities said. His passenger, 32-year-old Rosa Rodriguez, had an outstanding warrant for loitering, prowling or wandering upon private property, officials said.

Zuniga was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and petty theft with a prior conviction, authorities said. He also was arrested for the outstanding warrant.

Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and for her outstanding warrant, authorities said.